Archive for March 2nd, 2009
Monday, March 2nd, 2009
A host family in SFA’s Costa Rica Student Teaching Experience Program was the victim of a serious criminal incident prompting the University to recommend that the seven SFA students studying in Costa Rica return home while the situation is assessed. The seven SFA students have all received new student-teaching placements within Texas.
“The grandfather of one of the host families was killed in a home robbery attempt,” said Dr. John Jacobson, dean of the James I. Perkins College of Education. “Although no SFA student was physically harmed, it was clearly a traumatic experience for our students. The security of our students is always our top concern.”
The 13-week program offers teaching experience while creating an understanding of Costa Rican culture. More than 30 SFA students have lived and taught in Costa Rica since the inception of the program three years ago. While teaching there, the students work with education professionals, improve their Spanish-speaking skills, live with local families and receive an international experience that enhances their classroom education.
“Student teaching in Costa Rica has been a very popular and meaningful experience for our students who have participated in this program,” Jacobson said. “As with all international study programs, this program will be evaluated to ensure the future safety and security of all SFA students involved in international programs.”
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Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Manuel Antonio National Park will stay open, for now.
Local businesses and tourism outlets breathed a sigh of relief Friday after Health Minister María Luisa Avila gave the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET) a four-month extension to resolve the park’s longtime sewage contamination problems.
Avila announced the decision after touring Manuel Antonio Friday with officials from MINAET and the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA). The Health Ministry had given MINAET until Thursday to correct the problems at the park, which included mosquito-breeding standing water, a garbage dump on site and sewage leaks from the bathrooms near the park’s most popular beach. (more…)
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Monday, March 2nd, 2009
A 40-year-old Chicago man was arrested Thursday afternoon in the 2005 kidnapping and slaying of a Florida man in Costa Rica, according to the FBI.
Matthew Francis Nolan, of the 6900 block of South Euclid Avenue, was arrested as he left the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for a Bankruptcy Court hearing, charged in Costa Rica with the March 2005 kidnapping and slaying of Robert C. Cohen.
Costa Rican authorities alleged that Nolan and a co-defendant were believed to have kidnapped Cohen and held him for ransom, the FBI said in a news release today. When their demands were not met, according to the FBI, Cohen was killed and his body was later found under a bridge on the Chirripo River in Limon Province.
An investigation traced Nolan’s whereabouts to Chicago. He appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Mason and was ordered held without bail pending his next scheduled court appearance.
Nolan is being held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center until extradition proceedings are completed.
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Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Many argue that Costa Rica is not a financial crisis, however, the 200 employees of the Scotiabank in Costa Rica that are being laid off may have a differing opinion.
The private bank yesterday confirmed the massive job cuts, which according to the bank, the first to be notified of the cuts were in managerial positions, telling the employees that the current economic situation is not sustainable and job cuts are necessary to reduce costs.
The rest of the employees will be formally notified today, a bank spokesperson said.
Scotiabank is part of The Bank of Nova Scotia financial institution with head offices in Toronto, Canada.
With more than 10 years in the Costa Rican market, Scotiabank became the largest private bank when it purchased Banco Interfin two years ago.
Scotiabank, up to two weeks ago, assimilated all the Interfin branches, in some cases having two or more branches within a couple of kilometres of each other, as the two banks were head to head in competition before the fusion.
However, two weeks ago, Scotiabank closed the first two branches deemed redundant in the current economic situation.
The bank last week also announced the end of overtime for its employees.
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Monday, March 2nd, 2009
A world-class boating event set to arrive in the Caribbean port of Limón later this year could contribute indirectly to the creation of at least 2,000 jobs in the region, particularly within the hard hit construction sector, a port official said.
After a year-long bidding process, it was announced that Costa Rica’s port of Limón will be the final destination for the Transat Regatta Race that will take place in November.
The event is creating the opportunity to create jobs in the sense that if we maintain the infrastructure, we can hold other types of events in the future, Francisco Jiménez, president of the Atlantic Port Authority (JAPDEVA), said Tuesday. (more…)
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Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Costa Rican lawmakers last night approved a plan to borrow $500 million from the Inter-American Development Bank to invest in the electrical grid and spur economic growth, said Francisco Antonio Pacheco, president of the legislative assembly.
The funds from the IADB, a Washington-based lender to Latin America and the Caribbean, will go to the country’s state-owned utility. Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad will use the funds to improve power grids and increase electricity generation.
“It’s logical that in this moment of crisis we would increase our debt load a bit,” said Pacheco, 68.
Costa Rica’s economy may expand less than 2.2 percent this year, down from an estimated 2.9 percent in 2008, central bank chief Francisco de Paula Gutierrez said on Feb. 5. Economic activity fell by 3.1 percent in December from the year-ago month, the third straight decline, bank figures show.
“Output is definitely growing at a slower rate, and though I don’t know if we are there yet or on our way there, Costa Rica will have a recession,” Pacheco said in an interview at the Radisson hotel in San Jose. He said the country is suffering a “drastic” drop in foreign direct investment.
The central bank’s Gutierrez told reporters in San Jose this month that U.S. and other export markets are deteriorating faster than expected.
Costa Rica’s exports dropped 19 percent in January from the year-ago month, according to the trade ministry. Exports to the U.S., Costa Rica’s largest trading partner, were down 17.6 percent during that time, the ministry said.
The bill must be voted on a second time for final approval.
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Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Costa Rica’s University for Peace announced a new master’s program designed as an MBA for sustainable development professionals.
The United Nations-charted university near Ciudad Colón, west of San José, will launch the M.A. Program on Responsible Management and Sustainable Economic Development in September, UPEACE said in a press release.
We believe that it is essential for those interested in international affairs, the prevention of conflict, and the advancement of human rights and equitable social progress to have a thorough understanding of the world of economics and business, UPEACE rector John J. Maresca said.
The program is 11 months long, requiring 40 credits 32 in coursework, eight for an internship or project and final written assignment to graduate.
Anyone interested in applying can visit the university’s Web site at
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